Generational Upset, Nail-Biting Finish and Last-Minute Heartbreak – Closest Saturday FA Cup Games

Generational Upset, Nail-Biting Finish and Last-Minute Heartbreak – Closest Saturday FA Cup Games

As always, the third round of the FA Cup has already delivered some absolutely spectacular matches – from Macclesfield’s historical upset over Crystal Palace, to three matches going all the way to penalties in extraordinary fashion.

A titanic 82 goals were scored at 4.55 goals per game across the 18 matches, and in a day which felt like every game just kept getting better, we have attempted to pick out some of the best games of the day.

Football Park is here to give you the rundown on three of the most exciting fixtures on the day, as we take a look at some of the sides who booked their spot in the fourth round.

Macclesfield Miracle Sinks FA Cup Holders

Without a doubt the most fascinating fixture occurred at lunchtime, as sixth tier Macclesfield FC welcomed FA Cup holders Crystal Palace to The Leasing.com Stadium. Oliver Glasner made six changes to his Eagles lineup which took on Aston Villa on Wednesday night, and Palace looked destined to start their first campaign as holders with a win. Little did they know what they were in for.

Although the difference between the sides stood at 117 places in the English pyramid, this could not be told on the field, with the Silkmen showing their quality from the outset and making the general game rather competitive, much to Palace’s anger.

After Macclesfield Town were liquidated due to debts in 2020, the club reformed as Macclesfield FC and had to restart in the ninth tier…

Now they’re in the sixth tier and have just knocked out FA Cup holders Crystal Palace in the third round.

The biggest upset in FA Cup… pic.twitter.com/OAfu4qwfUR

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 10, 2026

The South Londoners began the game strongly, creating multiple good chances early on in the opening period. First, Kaden Rodney looped in an excellent cross which found 16-year-old academy graduate Joel Drakes-Thomas, but the teenager was unable to connect with the ball. The Eagles produced another opportunity which really should’ve found the net, with forward Christantus Uche firing high and wide, keeping the game scoreless.

The hosts then went up the other end, and the clinical Paul Dawson sent a thunderous header into the net to send the majority of the 5,000 fans in attendance into raptures. After more than five years on from their famous liquidation hearing in 2020, the Silkmen were 45 minutes from the biggest upset in FA Cup history.

The National League North outfit then had the perfect start to the second half, frustrating the visitors who were starting to lose patience, which played wonderfully into Macclesfield’s hands. Despite Glasner sending on the big guns, the Silkmen carried on playing with the belief and spirit required to perform such an upset, and on the hour mark, they were in dreamland.

A deflected shot fell into the path of ex-Oxford United man Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, who reacted quickest to slot away a second to double the sixth-tier side’s lead. Palace then began to get desperate, and chances started to come with Macclesfield trying with all their might to hold on, surrendering a lot of ball possession in the process.

Yeremy Pino stood over the ball in the 90th minute before firing home the free-kick to make sure Macclesfield had to keep their focus until the final whistle, which they did, and the Silkmen completed this historical upset and stroll into round four.

Late Drama at St James’ Sees Cherries Sent Packing

How on earth was this game not televised. In-form Newcastle welcomed a Bournemouth side to St James’ Park who were hoping to start off a new era without star man Antoine Semenyo – who had just transferred to Manchester City for £65 million – strongly, but it was unfortunately not to be for the south coast side as ex-goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale proved the difference in the shootout.

The Cherries came into the fixture hoping to put together a decent run of form, having only won one of their last 12 games in all competitions, but despite being moments away from a brilliant victory, an Anthony Gordon penalty sent the game to extra-time where more late drama sent the game into nine rounds of penalties, with Bafode Diakite’s saved spot-kick ending a thrilling afternoon’s action in the North-East.

Every penalty from Newcastle’s 7-6 shootout win against Bournemouth 🎯 pic.twitter.com/CYWQcFpUe3

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 10, 2026

Despite the chances pinging around between the two sides, nothing separated them heading into the break. Shortly after the interval, Wednesday’s hero Harvey Barnes continued his fine form, scoring his third (and later fourth) in two games, to send The Magpies into a well-deserved lead. Bournemouth didn’t let go easy, however, and responded well, with Alex Scott grabbing his first goal since September, before David Brooks’ worldie of a strike from 20 yards out sent the away dugout into delirium as they took the lead just moments later.

Bournemouth were moments away from a famous win at St James’ Park, but Sandro Tonali won a late penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage-time, where Gordon made no mistake from 12 yards, to send the game into extra-time. This wasn’t the last twist in the tale, as The Magpies found themselves back in front late thanks to late strike from none other than Barnes again, but a Marcus Tavernier goal in the second minute of stoppage-time of extra-time meant the game went all the way to penalties.

After Malick Thiaw scored in the ninth round of spot-kicks to put Newcastle 7-6 up, it was down to Diakite to put the shootout one round away from the ‘keepers; a save from Ramsdale saw his former side go out in dramatic fashion to round off what was in his words an “FA Cup classic.”

No Space for Two Shocks in One Day

In the late afternoon kickoffs, we headed to Blundell Park, where Grimsby Town, who had already caused a historic upset of their own this season after defeating Manchester United in the EFL Cup, welcomed National League South side Weston-super-Mare. After already seeing fellow tier six side Macclesfield causing one of the biggest shocks in the competition's history, the Somerset-based side were hoping they could cause another upset to see two tier six clubs into the fourth round.

Chasing the title in the sixth tier, The Seagulls would have been very excited by the opportunity of taking on a League Two side, who had to navigate themselves through to this stage very carefully, already avoiding two banana skins. It was a lively game, with end-to-end the common phrase used to describe the action, but a late Mariners goal proved the difference to end Weston-super-Mare’s most successful journey in the competition in the third round.

It was a fairly nervy opening 45 minutes for both sides, and although Grimsby were enjoying a majority of the possession, they couldn’t make it count which left the game in the balance. Shortly before the break, however, that chance came through some magic. Winger Charles Vernam took a corner shot and released a powerful effort from distance which blasted into the goal to give the hosts a deserved lead.

The part-timers were not behind for long, however, as shortly after Louis Britton saw his strike fly just over the bar, Luke Coulson levelled as a result of a fortunate free-kick which took a heavy deflection. As we entered the final 20 minutes, Jaze Kabia restored The Mariners lead with a cool effort from close range.

Weston-super-Mare restored parity just seven mintues later, as Grimsby simply could not get rid of the visitors. Britton finally got his goal, from a free-kick whipped in by scorer-turned-provider Coulson to give The Seagulls hope late on. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be for the tier six outfit, however, as substitute Kieran Green managed to land his headed effort over the ‘keeper to book Grimsby a ticket in the fourth round by the skin of their teeth.

⚽️ #Mariners lead for the third time, Kieran Green with the header #GTFC FT Grimsby Town 3:2 Weston-super-Mare. #FACup🏆 The #nonleague visitors played superbly. pic.twitter.com/KYUJtAljLO

— M O T O H 🎃 P P E R (@motohopper) January 10, 2026